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What does the future hold for Windsor and its water?

Erin Udell
3:14 p.m. MDT May 12, 2014

Flocculation pools, where particles and sediment are removed from the water, are pictured at the Soldier Canyon Filter Plant in Fort Collins. North Weld County Water District, one of Windsor’s main water suppliers, utilizes Soldier Canyon for treatment of its water.
(Photo:
V. Richard Haro/For the Beacon
)

Story Highlights

How much water does Windsor use? In the winter: 1.2 million gallons daily.

In the summer: 4 million gallons daily.On average, residents use 650 million gallons annually.

Twenty-five years ago, Windsor residents used 335 million gallons per year.

As Windsor Town Board discussed a possible increase of water and sewer tap fees within the town in April, the conversation turned — as it has before — to something bigger.

What does the future of water in Windsor look like?

The town has always purchased its water from suppliers. Currently, it has three providers: Fort Collins-Loveland Water District, North Weld County Water District and the city of Greeley.

But by purchasing its treated water and not having access to a water treatment facility of its own, Windsor loses something: control.

“As long as people are going to build houses, we’re going to need water,” Windsor’s Director of Finance Dean Moyer said, referring to Windsor’s continued growth in recent years. “And, being that we don’t have our own plant, we’re always controlled by someone else.”

Moyer said the town has always kicked around the idea of having its own water treatment facility.

“It comes up every year and we talk about it, but up until now it seems to be getting more serious, you know?” Moyer said. “We really need to do something here.”

Twenty-five years ago, when the town’s population was roughly 5,062, Windsor residents used a total of 335 million gallons annually, according to Windsor Director of Engineering Dennis Wagner.

Now, with that population more than quadrupled, residents use about 650 million gallons of water per year.

For Windsor Town Manager Kelly Arnold, the general feeling surrounding Windsor water is that “if we can control it, we can make sure Windsor has enough water.”

“So I don’t think there’s been any problems with our providers, it’s just a matter of how do we control our own destiny,” he said.

“Right now, there’s a lot of work being done on the future of water in Northern Colorado, and it’s my thesis that for the next three to five years, a lot of studies, a lot of discussions and a lot of decision-making is going to occur by various entities that are going to decide how water will be delivered to Northern Colorado municipalities,” Arnold said.

Windsor is currently one of 15 participants in Northern Water’s Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP). The regional water supply project aims to provide its participants with 40,000 acre-feet of new water supply each year through the Glade Reservoir and Poudre Valley Canal.

The town also has been involved in conversations with a handful of other Northern Colorado communities about the possibility of sharing a regional water treatment facility.

Arnold said eight municipalities, including Windsor, Severance, Loveland, Eaton and Milliken, and water districts like Fort Collins-Loveland, Central Weld and Little Thompson are involved.

A feasibility study for the possible treatment facility has been conducted, Arnold added, and it would cost Windsor anywhere from $11 million to $17 million to buy in at a certain capacity level.

The next step for the possible project is the formation of an authority that would be responsible for building the regional plant, Arnold said, adding that the communities involved just initiated that discussion about a month ago.

“We’re still in the fatal flaw process, and as long as there’s no fatal flaws we’re going to keep going down the road to see if this is a viable option while we keep ourselves open to other options,” Arnold said.

Six miles northeast of Windsor, similar conversations are happening in Severance, which also buys treated water from North Weld County Water District.

“Currently, we’re very happy with the agreement we have with North Weld. We have a very good relationship with them, and we look forward to a continued relationship with them,” Severance Town Manager John Holdren said.

But, as Severance grows just like Windsor, the town is also part of NISP and the discussions about a possible regional treatment plant.

“I think the (feasibility) study went along well,” Holdren said. “The towns that participated are still meeting and discussing things and we’ll see where it all shakes out in the end.”

According to Arnold, he thinks something will have to happen water-wise in Windsor by 2020.

“Changes could come before then. Decisions either need to be made by then or (a treatment facility could) either be under development by then,” he said.

And, with Northern Colorado — and Windsor in particular — growing, that’s a good thing.

“We’re never going to need less water,” Moyer said. “We’re going to have to get it somewhere.”